Columns

I’ve talked about how the fungus-root network that ties all the trees in an area together functions as a communication and nutrient distribution system, but trees also communicate in other ways. With recorders that can pick up sounds too high or too low for human hearing, we have discovered that an elephant can communicate with another elephant as far away as six miles, and whales can hear other whales as far away as 4,000 miles.

I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: A rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.

Spiders have always been my nemesis, and judging from some of the memes I see on Facebook, I am far from alone! Arachnaphobia is a real thing… though I would not classify my dislike for the insects quite that severe.

One time the music that you played whenever you would jive, Was from a vinyl, big holed record called a forty- five. The record player had a post to keep them all in line, And then the records would drop down and play one at a time.

It’s interesting how the seasons take on different meanings and priorities throughout the various stages of one’s life. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I looked forward to the final school bell ringing, signaling the end of the year and the beginning of summer vacation. In my younger years, that meant evenings playing hide and seek with my younger brothers and most of the kids in our neighborhood. My parents loved to camp, and in the summer we would frequently pack up the tents, boxes of food, and a dog or two, and head for a campground.

A little house with three bedrooms and one car on the street, A mower that you had to push to make the grass look neat. In the kitchen on the wall, we only had one phone, And no need for recording things - someone was always home.

I talk a lot about birds. Why? Because I like birds. There are a lot of different kinds, and birding is one of the most popular extra-curricular activities for adults. One out of three Americans list birding as a hobby. Also, birding has been a popular activity for a long time. Here is an example.

The 109th session of the Nebraska Legislature adjourned Sine Die on Monday, June 2. There are many things I can reflect on but this week I want to focus on one particular theme of controversy this year; “the will of the people”, specifically related to ballot initiatives. This session we debated proposed changes to three specific ballot initiatives; paid sick leave, minimum wage, and medical marijuana. As a constitutional Republic, the “will of the people” can and is exercised in four specific ways: 1. We vote for representatives, not only in the Legislature but on a variety of boards such as County Commissioner, school boards, NRD boards, City Councils and much more. We vote for the person we believe will best represent our values and beliefs but most importantly, the person who we believe will uphold the Constitution of both Nebraska and the United States.

Sometimes I feel totally exhausted from all the noise and distractions of our world. Does anyone else feel that way? May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and though the month may be over, I think it is important to make our mental health a priority every month!